Random generator

ABSTRACT

A random generator is described which includes a plurality of rotatably mounted indicia reels. A stopping disc is mounted to rotate with each reel and has a plurality of equally spaced magnetic slugs disposed about the circumference thereof. An electromagnet is placed in close proximity of each stopping disc and adapted to be randomly energized to engage one of said plurality of magnetic slugs. The stopping disc is adapted to rotate at a rate faster than the indicia reel. Adjustment is provided between the stopping disc gear and corresponding gear of an indicia reel.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Carl D. Calos Northridge; Larry Lloyd Main, North Hollywood, both of Calif.

[21] Appl. No. 829,183

[22] Filed June 2, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 I [73] Assignee Centaur Mine Computer Devices, Inc.

New York, NY.

54 RANDOM GENERATOR 18 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 273/143 C [5|] Int. Cl A631 5/04 [50] Field 01 Search 273/143 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,093,813 9/1937 Macourek 273/143 R 2,554,942 5/1951 Dobrowsky 273/143 R X 689,365 12/1901 McMuilen 273/143 807,927 12/1905 Henwood 273/143 C 1,970,731 8/1934 Boggess 273/143 C 2,039.969 5/1936 McIntosh 273/143c 2,545,644 3/1951 861110116131" 273/143c 2,754,124 7/1956 Finney 273/143 3,281,149 10/1966 Miller 273/143 FOREIGN PATENTS 491,471 2/1930 Germany 273/143R 601,985 8/1934 Germany.. 273/143R 1,526,944 4/1968 France 273/143R Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer Attorney-Robert E. Geauque PATENTEI] nEc n91:

SHEET 2 BF 5 PATENTED' w: 7 mm SHEET 5 OF 5 I ia-7 RANDOM GENERATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to a novel and improved device which matches indicias on a plurality of randomly stopped reels.

In amusement devices there is one particular type machine which comprises a plurality of reels which have different indicias thereon. Such indicias are normally in the form of pictures of different fruit. When certain of these indicias are lined up, the operator of the machine is declared a winner in certain and varying degrees. These machines are, in most cases, manually rotated by an operating lever arm which, when manipulated, begins all reels rotating simultaneously. At ran dom times each reel is sequentially caused to stop rotating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a base having a frame mounted thereon. A shaft is rotatably mounted to the frame. A plurality of reels is rotatably mounted to the shaft and have a plurality of indicias placed about the peripheral edge thereof. A plurality of stopping discs is provided and each being adapted to rotate with a corresponding reel and generally at a faster rate than the reel. A plurality of magnetic slugs are equally spaced about or near the circum ference of the stopping disc. Stopping means are provided in the form of an electromagnet disposed to engage a randomly selected magnetic slug.

It can be appreciated that the stopping disc may be provided to rotate at a speed faster than the indicia reel. For example, if the stopping disc has five slugs on it, and the indicia reel is provided with 20 indicias, a single slug is adapted to stop the reel in any one of four different locations. To provide a more random selection, the indicias which match with each stopping slug should, for example, be provided with a different indicia.

The present invention also includes means for adjusting the position of the stopping disc mechanism including the electromagnetic solenoid in relation to the indicia reel to assure an alignment of indicias on the reels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art when taken into consideration with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals indicate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the amusement device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of this invention having cutaway portions showing internal mechanisms thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is different embodiments of the stopping mechanisms;

FIG. 6 is a side view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is yet a different embodiment of the stopping mechanism; and

FIG. 8 is a side view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings and to a more complete description of this invention, the numeral I0 indicates a baseplate having a frame 12 which comprises a plurality of equally spaced partitions l4, 16, I8 and extending perpendicular therefrom. A shaft 24 is rotatably mounted on bearings 26 and 28 which are disposed on the end partitions l4 and 22. The bearing 26 is securely mounted to the partition I4, and the bearing 28 is securely mounted to the partition 22 of the frame 12. Rotatably mounted to the shaft 24 and between each partition is an indicia reel 30, 32, 34 and 36. Each indicia reel may be divided into a plurality of segments, each segment having a specific indicia thereon which is adapted to match indicias on the remaining indicia reels.

The object of this amusement device is to rotate each of these indicia reels each one stopping at a different time. Normally they stop in sequential order starting from the left end, but this invention is not limited to any stopping order or sequence. If certain indicia match other indicias on the reel, or certain combinations of indicias are provided, the operator is declared a winner in varying degrees, depending upon the indicias and the number matched.

To rotate the indicia reels 30, 32, 34 and 36, a motor 29 is provided and mounted to the base plate 10 by suitable brackets 33. The motor 29 has a pulley 35 connected to the motor shaft 37. The shaft 24 for the indicia reels 30, 32, 34 and 36 has a pulley 38 mounted thereon. A drivebelt 40 is coupled between pulleys 35 and 38. Thus, as motor 29 rotates, the shaft 24 and reels 30, 32, 34 and 36 rotate therewith. Means (not shown) can be provided to cause the motor to enable the rotation of the shaft 24.

Each reel 30, 32, 34 and 36 includes means in the form of an unidirectional clutch by which the reel may be rotated by a forward rotation of the shaft 24 and the reels may continue to rotate in the forward direction when the shaft 24 stops. This feature is shown in FIG. 2 and includes the hub 42 which is connected to the reel 34 by suitable fastening means such as screw 44. Also, the clutch includes the bearing 46 which is disposed between the shaft 24 and the hub 42. These types of clutches are sometimes referred to as unidirectional clutches and are well known to those skilled in the art. These clutches operate by the wedging of a movable member between the shaft 24 and the hub, causing the hub 42 and the reel 34 to rotate with them.

The principle of the operation of this clutch is applied to the operation of this invention. The hub 42 has a gear 50 mounted thereon by suitable fastening means such as screw 52. The gear 50 is adapted to rotate with the hub 42. Thus, when gear 50 is turning, the reel 34 and hub 42 are also turning. The reels 30, 32 and 36 also include a clutch, hub and gear similar to reel 34, thereby allowing each reel 30. 32, 34 and 36 to either rotate or stop on the shaft 24. The intent of the concept is such that the rotation of the shaft initiates the rotation of the various reels simultaneously. Thereafter stopping the motor permits the reels to freely rotate and be stopped individually.

A plurality of stopping discs 60, 62, 64 and 66 are provided and are rotatably mounted to partitions 16, I8, 20 and 22 respectively, by being rotatably mounted on shafts 70, 72, 74 and 76 which in turn are mounted to the respective partitions by adjustment plates, such as plate 102 later to be described. With reference to reel 34, the shaft 74 rotatably mounts a disc plate 80 by means of bearings 81 and the plate 80 supports the stopping disc 64 by screws 84. A gear 82 is mounted on plate 80 for rotation on the shaft 74. The gear 82 is adapted to engage gear 50 and thereby causing gear 82 and disc 64 to rotate with gear 50 and reel 34. Further, when stopping disc 64 is stopped by means yet to be described, reel 34 is also caused to stop.

To cause the stopping discs 60, 6 2, 64 and 66 to stop, means are provided to engage each stopping disc independently at randomly selected times. This timing is not part of this invention and therefore will not be described in detail. Also such timing and engaging techniques are within the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The stopping means includes a plurality of magnetic slugs 90, 92, 94, 96 and 98 equally spaced about the circumferential edge of each stopping disc, shown best in FIG. 3 on stopping disc 64. An electromagnet 100 is disposed upon an adjustment plate 102 and spaced to engage any one of the slugs 90, 92, 94, 96 and 98 as they rotate in close proximity thereto. The strength of the electromagnet 100 is such that it can hold the magnetic slug such as slug 94 as shown in FIG. 4, and thereby stop the reel 34 from rotating.

A means is shown in FIG. 4 to adjust the positioning of the stopping disc assembly with respect to the gear 50. This means includes a spring 106 having one end 108 connected to one end 110 of the adjustable plate 102, and the other end 112 connected to a nut and bolt 114 which is secured to the plate 20.

The adjustment plate 102 is connected to the partition 20 by bolts 116 connected through slots 118 (shown in FIG. 3). The plate 102 is slidable relative to plate 20, held in forward tension by spring 106. To provide for this slidable movement, a nut 120 and bolt 122 connected together through holes provided in upturned ends of the partition 20 and adjustment plate 102. By tightening and loosening the nut 120, the plates slide relative to one another.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6, there is shown a different embodiment of the apparatus used for stopping a selected reel from rotating. In this embodiment, the stopping disc is replaced with an iron pentagon 130. This pentagon 130 is substantially star-shaped and rotates on the axis of the shaft 74 and the gear 82 is connected thereto. The star-shaped pentagon has outwardly protruding points. In this embodiment the iron core of the electromagnet 100 is horseshoe-shaped and each leg of the horseshoe protrudes toward the star points of the iron pentagon 130. A nominal gap of approximately 0.0001 to 0.005-inch gap exists between the points of the pentagon and the legs of the horseshoe iron core 132. This gap exists during the free running condition. When the solenoid 100 is energized, the iron pentagon will flex on the shaft 74 under the influence of the magnetic field to such an extent necessary for positive engagement of the corresponding points of the iron pentagon 130 to the ends of the iron core 132.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown still a further embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment there is provided mechanical stopping of the stopping discs. The iron slugs are replaced with protruding dowels about the peripheral edge of the stopping disc. An arm 150 is pivotally mounted at a pivot or fulcrum point 152, and is adapted to be moved by the iron slug 154 in the solenoid 100. A spring mechanism 156 is connected to one point 158 of the arm 150 and to a second point which may be the rear of the solenoid 100, for example. The am 150 is provided with hyperbola 160 which is adapted to engage one of the protruding dowels 140. The end of the arm 150 near the hyperbola 160 has an elliptical edge 162 which is adapted to engage a separate but adjacent dowel 140.

By this embodiment, when the solenoid 150 pulls in the iron slug 154, the arm 150 causes the hyperbola 160 and the elliptical edge 162 to substantially wedge between adjacent dowels 140. By this method the wedge-shaped area 164 is forced between the two adjacent dowels and will cause the stopping disc to always stop on a certain one of its selected five positions.

While the invention has been described in connection with four reels, it is understood that it is applicable to generators having two or more reels.

Having thus described but one embodiment of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising:

a frame including a shaft rotatably mounted thereto;

a base, said frame being mounted to said base;

a plurality of vertical indicia reels rotatably mounted to the shaft of said frame;

means for initially rotating said reels;

a plurality of stopping discs each corresponding to a corresponding reel, each said stopping disc being rotatably mounted to said frame adjacent a corresponding reel;

means for causing each said disc to rotate continuously with a corresponding vertical reel;

means for randomly and individually stopping said stopping discs and thereby indexing the corresponding reels; and

means for adjustment of said stopping discs with respect to said indicia reels.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 and including means for causing each said stopping disc to rotate at a faster rate than said corresponding vertical reel.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each said stopping disc has a plurality of magnetic slugs equispaced around the circumference thereof and said stopping means including an electromagnet for each disc being mounted on said frame disposed to engage said magnetic slugs of the corresponding disc.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 and including means for causing each said stopping disc to rotate at a faster rate than said corresponding vertical reel.

5. An amusement device comprising:

a base;

a frame mounted to said base, said frame including a plurality of partitions vertically extending from said base;

a shaft rotatably mounted to said frame and horizontally through said plurality of partitions;

a plurality of indicia reels rotatably mounted to said shaft,

each reel of said plurality being disposed between adjacent partitions;

means for initially rotating said reels;

a plurality of stopping discs, each stopping disc rotatably mounted to a corresponding partition and adjacent a corresponding reel;

means causing each said stopping disc to rotate continuously with a corresponding reel, each stopping disc having a plurality of magnetic areas equispaced about the circumference thereof; and

a plurality of electromagnets, each electromagnet being disposed near a corresponding stopping disc and when activated adapted to randomly engage a magnetic area of said stopping disc thereby index the corresponding reel.

6. The amusement device as defined in claim 5 and further comprising motor means rotatably connected to said shaft for causing said shaft and said reels to rotate.

7. The amusement device as defined in claim 5 wherein said magnetic areas comprise magnetic slugs connected to said stopping discs.

8. The amusement device as defined in claim 5 and further comprising means for adjusting said stopping disc with respect to corresponding electromagnet.

9. The amusement device as defined in claim 5 and further comprising:

motor means rotatably connected to said shaft for causing said shaft and said reels to rotate; and

means for adjusting said stopping disc with respect to corresponding electromagnet.

10. The amusement device as defined in claim 9 wherein said magnetic areas comprise magnetic slugs connected to said stopping discs.

11. An amusement device comprising:

a frame including a shaft rotatably mounted thereto;

a base, said frame being mounted to said base;

means for rotating said shaft;

a plurality of vertical indicia reels;

means being responsive to rotation of said shaft for rotating said reels and being responsive to stopping of said shaft for allowing continued rotation of said plurality of reels;

a plurality of indexing discs, one disc of said plurality of discs for each reel of said plurality of reels, mounted on the frame and rotatable with respect to said plurality of reels;

12. An amusement device including: a frame including a shaft rotatably mounted thereto;

a base, said frame being mounted to said base;

a plurality of vertical indicia reels rotatably mounted to the shaft of said frame;

means for initially rotating said reels;

a plurality of corresponding stopping discs each rotatably mounted to said frame adjacent a corresponding reel;

means for causing each said stopping disc to rotate continuously with a corresponding vertical reel; and

means for individually and randomly stopping said stopping discs and thereby indexing the corresponding reels.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 and further including means for rotating each said stopping disc at a faster rate than said corresponding vertical indicia reel.

14. The device as defined in claim 12 wherein each said stopping disc has a plurality of magnetic slugs equispaced around the circumference thereof and said stopping means including an electromagnet for each disc being mounted on said frame and being disposed to engage said magnetic slugs of the corresponding disc.

15. The device as defined in claim 14 including means for 5 rotating each said stopping disc at a faster rate than said corresponding vertical reel.

16. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein the means for initially rotating said reels comprises means for rotating said shaft.

17. The device as defined in claim 16 wherein said shaft 

1. An amusement device comprising: a frame including a shaft rotatably mounted thereto; a base, said frame being mounted to said base; a plurality of vertical indicia reels rotatably mounted to the shaft of said frame; means for initially rotating said reels; a plurality of stopping discs each corresponding to a corresponding reel, each said stopping disc being rotatably mounted to said frame adjacent a corresponding reel; means for causing each said disc to rotate continuously with a corresponding vertical reel; means for randomly and individually stopping said stopping discs and thereby indexing the corresponding reels; and means for adjustment of said stopping discs with respect to said indicia reels.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1 and including means for causing each said stopping disc to rotate at a faster rate than said corresponding vertical reel.
 3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each said stopping disc has a plurality of magnetic slugs equispaced around the circumference thereof and said stopping means including an electromagnet for each disc being mounted on said frame disposed to engage said magnetic slugs of the corresponding disc.
 4. The device as defined in claim 3 and including means for causing each said stopping disc to rotate at a faster rate than said corresponding vertical reel.
 5. An amusement device comprising: a base; a frame mounted to said base, said frame including a plurality of partitions vertically extending from said base; a shaft rotatably mounted to said frame and horizontally through said plurality of partitions; a plurality of indicia reels rotatably mounted to said shaft, each reel of said plurality being disposed between adjacent partitions; means for initially rotating said reels; a plurality of stopping discs, each stopping disc rotatably mounted to a corresponding partition and adjacent a corresponding reel; means causing each said stopping disc to rotate continuously with a corresponding reel, each stopping disc having a plurality of magnetic areas equispaced about the circumference thereof; and a plurality of electromagnets, each electromagnet being disposed near a corresponding stopping disc and when activated adapted to randomly engage a magnetic area of said stopping disc thereby index the corresponding reel.
 6. The amusement device as defined in claim 5 and further comprising motor means rotatably connected to said shaft for causing said shaft and said reels to rotate.
 7. The amusement device as defined in claim 5 wherein said magnetic areas comprise magnetic slugs connected to said stopping discs.
 8. The amusement device as defined in claim 5 and further comprising means for adjusting said stopping disc with respect to corresponding electromagnet.
 9. The amusement device as defined in claim 5 and further comprising: motor means rotatably connected to said shaft for causing said shaft and said reels to rotate; and means for adjusting said stopping disc with respect to corresponding electromagnet.
 10. The amusement device as defined in claim 9 wherein said magnetic areas comprise magnetic slugs connected to said stopping discs.
 11. An amusement device comprising: a frame including a shaft rotatably mounted thereto; a base, said frame being mounted to said base; means for rotating said shaft; a plurality of vertical indicia reels; means being responsive to rotation of said shAft for rotating said reels and being responsive to stopping of said shaft for allowing continued rotation of said plurality of reels; a plurality of indexing discs, one disc of said plurality of discs for each reel of said plurality of reels, mounted on the frame and rotatable with respect to said plurality of reels; means responsive to rotation of each reel of said plurality of reels for rotating a corresponding indexing disc of said plurality of discs; means for randomly stopping said indexing discs; and means responsive to stopping of each indexing disc of said plurality of discs for stopping the associated reel of said plurality of reels such that all reels of said plurality of reels are in index positions.
 12. An amusement device including: a frame including a shaft rotatably mounted thereto; a base, said frame being mounted to said base; a plurality of vertical indicia reels rotatably mounted to the shaft of said frame; means for initially rotating said reels; a plurality of corresponding stopping discs each rotatably mounted to said frame adjacent a corresponding reel; means for causing each said stopping disc to rotate continuously with a corresponding vertical reel; and means for individually and randomly stopping said stopping discs and thereby indexing the corresponding reels.
 13. The device as defined in claim 12 and further including means for rotating each said stopping disc at a faster rate than said corresponding vertical indicia reel.
 14. The device as defined in claim 12 wherein each said stopping disc has a plurality of magnetic slugs equispaced around the circumference thereof and said stopping means including an electromagnet for each disc being mounted on said frame and being disposed to engage said magnetic slugs of the corresponding disc.
 15. The device as defined in claim 14 including means for rotating each said stopping disc at a faster rate than said corresponding vertical reel.
 16. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein the means for initially rotating said reels comprises means for rotating said shaft.
 17. The device as defined in claim 16 wherein said shaft rotating means comprises: a motor mounted to said baseplate; a first pulley mounted to be rotated by said motor; a second pulley mounted to the shaft in said frame; and a drivebelt coupled between said first pulley and said second pulley.
 18. The devices as defined in claim 17 and further comprising means for adjustment of said indicia reels with respect to said stopping discs. 